Heddle backer for warp-drawing machines



Oct. 10, 1939. PETERSON 2,175,910

HEDDLE BACKER FOR WARP-DRAWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 28, 1937 INVENTOR Burt A. Peterson mbm amywd ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFMIE HEDDLE BACKER FOR WARP-DRAWING MACHINES ration of Illinois Application October 28,

6 Claims.

The invention pertains to an improved means for compacting steel heddles in the drawing-in operation of a warp-drawing machine, and the object of the invention is to provide a heddle compacting means or backer of low cost, effectual in operation, and capable of easy application to or removal from the machine.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a heddle frame in a warp-drawing machine carrying a mass or pack of steel heddles and illustrating the improved device for compacting the heddles.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the compacting device or backer.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the heddles associated with the backer are released from the pack.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 5 designates one of the usual group of heddle frames suitably supported in the frame work 6 of a warp-drawing machine. A traveling carriage l is slidable on the main frame and the heddles are released in the usual manner under the control of a spiral release key 8 carried by a shaft 9 which extends through key slots I in the heddles.

The heddle frame comprises upper and lower parallel bars H and I2 suitably connected at their opposite ends, as by means of U-shaped metallic members l3. Carried by the end members of the frame are a pair of stringer bars or rails l4 upon which a pack of heddles 15 are slidably supported for traveling movement with the carriage I.

I6 designates the improved backer for maintaining the heddles in compacted relation. For purposes of simplification, this backer is carried on the heddle frame instead of on the machine frame as has heretofore been the common practice. In the present embodiment it comprises two bars I! and I8 (Fig. 2) arranged in interfitting relation to form an endwise extensible member disposed in upright position with its upper and lower ends in frictional engagement with the rails M of the heddle frame. The upper bar I! of the backer has a tongue l9 fitting slidably within an open ended slot 20 in the lower bar l8, and between the two bars on opposite sides of the tongue, expansion springs 2| are provided for the purpose of holding the ends of the bars against the rails l4. The bars are maintained in assembled relation by a pair of guide plates 22 fixed upon opposite sides of the lower bar I8 and having pin slot connections 23 with the upper bar. To retain the ends of the backer member against 1937, Serial No. 171,445

lateral movement relative to the rails 14, the ends of the bars I! and H! are suitably grooved as indi cated at 24.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the extensible backer member is disposed directly behind the mass of heddles l and therefore in the same verticle plane as the heddles. Accordingly, the lower bar I8 is apertured at 25 to receive the shaft 9, and suitable notches 26 are cut in the forward edge of the bar and in the side plates 22 to receive the spiral key 8 as the latter is withdrawn through the last of the heddles.

As shown in Fig. l the shaft 9 is disposed above the center line of the extensible backing member and in the travel of the carriage exerts a somewhat greater pressure upon the upper portion of the heddles than on the lower portion thereof. To hold the member in upright position. as it moves rearwardly in the operation of the machine, an arm or brace 27 extends rearwardly from the upper portion of the backing member and slidably engages at its free end with the shaft 9. Said arm is conveniently attached to one of the guide plates 22 and carries at its rear end a suitable bearing block 28 ofiset laterally and grooved for sliding engagement with the shaft 9.

It will be observed that the improved back is very simple in construction and since it is carried by the heddle frame, further simplification in the machine structure is obtained. Obviously it is capable of being quickly and easily applied to or removed from the heddle frame.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a warp-drawing machine, the combination with a heddle frame having a pair of parallel rails for slidably supporting a mass of heddles and a heddle release shaft threaded through the heddles and operative to move the mass of heddles on said rails, of an upright backer member disposed between said rails with opposite end portions in frictional engagement with the same for maintaining the mass of heddles in compacted relation, and means coacting with said shaft for holding said upright member against tilting.

2. In a warp-drawing machine, the combination with a heddle frame having a pair of parallel rails for slidably supporting a mass of heddles and a heddle release shaft threaded through the heddles and operative to move the mass of heddles on said rails, of a backer member disposed between said rails with opposite end portions in frictional engagement with the same for rnain-- taining the mass of heddles in compacted relation,

and a brace carried by said member and adapted to engage slidably with said shaft.

3. In a warp-drawing machine, the combination with a heddle frame having a pair of parallel rails for sliclably supporting a mass of heddles and a heddle release shaft threaded through the heddles and operative to move the mass of heddles on said rails, of a backer member disposed between said rails with opposite end portions in frictional engagement with the same for maintaining the mass of heddles in compacted relation, and a brace carried by said member and arranged for slidable engagement with said shaft, said shaft being oiiset to one side of the center of said heddies and said brace being attached to the backer member on the same side of the center of the heddles as said shaft.

4. A device for compacting a pack of steel heddles in a warp-drawing machine having a heddle 20 supporting frame, comprising in combination a backing member having two interfitting parts in endwise sliding relation, and spring means operative to force said parts against opposing frame members.

5. In a warp-drawing machine, the combination of a heddle frame having a pair of spaced parallel rails, and a heddle backing device carried solely by said frame and comprising an endwise extensible member adapted to engage said rails, and spring means urging opposite end portions of said member into frictional engagement with said rails.

6. For use with a heddle supporting frame in a Warp-drawing machine, having spaced parallel rails, a backer for the heddles adapted to be carried so1ely by said frame and comprising an endwise yieldable member interposed between said rails and frictionally engaging the same.

BURT A. PETERSON. 

